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Lightweight rope


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Home Forums Off Piste Mountaineering & Alpinism Lightweight rope

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  • #1290199
    Ray Bailly
    Member

    @tempestv

    When we go hiking, we tend to find a whole lot of areas where the hiking starts to look more like climbing- 45 degree slopes, small ledges, ect. I can scramble up pretty well, but some of my hiking partners could do with some help. We were thinking that if I carried 50-100 feet of rope, I could hike up and tie onto a tree or other anchor and they would have something to use as a handhold. Strength isn't really critical since it won't really be supporting much weight. However, it does need to be big enough to get a good hold on. 7-8mm would probably be about minimum, or some sort of webbing. Any recommendations on something that would allow someone to get a decent amount of grip, but not weigh to much?

    #1880163
    David Olsen
    Spectator

    @oware

    Locale: Steptoe Butte

    You might look at water rescue rope, like they put in throw bags for kayakers. Comes in 5/16 " and larger diameters, is made of polypro so is lighter than nylon. Has a special
    soft weave for good grip and less kinks.

    Can't use if for rock climbing as it is not dynamic rope. You will need to make sure your
    use is suitable.

    #1880171
    Richard Fischel
    BPL Member

    @ricko

    not cheap, but it will do what you want with some margin of safety.

    #1898365
    Andrew Zajac
    Member

    @azajac

    Locale: South West

    You could just carry some cord to create prussiks or other ascending knots. You could just make sure the cords are long enough to leave a loop that you could hold on to.

    #1898396
    Khader Ahmad
    Member

    @337guanacos

    Locale: Pirineos, Sierra de la Demanda

    I use this:

    http://bealplanet.com/sport/anglais/corde-rando.php

    More options are 7mm cord or 5.5mm dynema core cord (can be use as an standard fixed rope).

    #1898965
    Mitchell Rossman
    Member

    @bigmitch

    Locale: Minneapolis-St. Paul

    I second the previous post recommendation. I take a 8.2 mm 30 meter glacier rope and weighs about 3 lbs.

    #1899281
    David Olsen
    Spectator

    @oware

    Locale: Steptoe Butte

    Here is an example of the water rescue line.
    30 meters of 8mm
    weight 2.1 lbs.
    1600 lb breaking strength
    7.8% elongation at 300 lbs
    $37

    http://www.rocknrescue.com/acatalog/Sterling—5-16-Waterline.html

    #1904829
    Brian Austin
    Member

    @footeab

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    I know this is sacrilege, but =)) VERY cheep polypro line. Lightest thing you can get for its diameter. Lots cheaper than buying a climbing rope.

    I carry 6mm chord that I can turn into prussics at a drop of a hat. Had no problems with folks getting a grip on it. If its such a problem whack off an end and make a prussic hand hold loop they move along the line.

    6mm dynamic has breaking strength of 1000lbs.

    If you want super light go with 5mm static line and once again make a prussic grab chord for those who have a weak hand grip.

    Far lighter than those proscribing 8mm or larger line.

    #1904835
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    For one trip this summer, I didn't need any real rope. All I needed was a strong enough cord for support that I could do a horizontal pendulum to cross one stream. The maximum length that I needed was 100 feet. I got some orange Dyneema cord that weighed only 2.6 ounces. That works.

    –B.G.–

    #1904839
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    For penduluming across a river, where you are always "at the end of your rope", you could go with very small diameter and tie it around a branch for something to grip onto. 100 feet of 100-pound-test spectra would be way, way under an ounce.

    Or here's 150 feet of 150-pound downrigger wire for $11. http://www.ebay.com/itm/TMI-downrigger-cable-150-foot-150-pound-test-/170896917471?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ca4003df

    #1904841
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    David, I was not going to tie the rope/cord onto anything.

    The plan was to simply loop the cord around a tree on the first bank, then walk across the stream with the cord taut to keep me upright. Upon reaching the second bank, I could let go of one end of the cord and retrieve it all.

    –B.G.–

    #1905184
    Brian Austin
    Member

    @footeab

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    A friend carries/uses 2mm dyneema to repel on… Its a very suspect way to do it with a miniscule safety factor, but is doable. Has 800lb breaking strength. The whole thing "pings-ping ping pings" as it stretches. Carries each half in a sil nylon bag. So 2 bags that get kicked thrown down the mountain as one repels. Otherwise such long lengths of tiny cord is a serious cluster @$#*&(!!!!

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